Posted on September 3, 2020 at 8:56 am by West Sider

By Yvonne Vvra

It may take a village to raise a kid, but it takes a winery to homeschool one.

Thats just one of the hundreds of memes circling through social media during the height of the pandemic.

Its called quarantine coffee. Its just like normal coffee but it has margarita in it and also no coffee.

Thats another one. Conan OBrien asked: Can we all agree to temporarily raise the bar for whats considered an alcoholic? And while many of President Franklin D. Roosevelts quotes are just as appropriate in our time as they were during the Great Depression, the one he reportedly said on the end of prohibition certainly hit the sweet spot of 2020: What America needs right now is a drink.

Apparently. Sales of alcoholic beverages in the US skyrocketed since we were ordered to stay at home. Wine sales rose 66% over the previous year in the week ending March 21, the market research firm Nielsen reported. Beer sales were up 42%, and harder liquor like tequila or gin even jumped up 75%. Like toilet paper and cleaning supplies, booze was flying off the shelves, and understandably so: The pandemic had everyone on edge, feeling not only their own but also the collective anxiety, prompting many to turn to the bottle for a break: In a study from Alcohol.org, 38% of New Yorkers admitted they were day-drinking during working hours.

Beej Christie Karpen.

The reason many are drinking more during the pandemic has largely to do with uncertainty, says Beej Christie Karpen, a certified coach, mindfulness-based therapist, and long-time Upper West Sider. Most of us dont do well with uncertainty. It scares us, and the pandemic has really brought that to the forefront.

Karpen had become curious about why people overdrink during her studies at NYU where she designed a mindful drinking program. Later she became a meditation instructor and eventually implemented her idea for mindful and self-compassionate drinking practices in free meetings for women as part of Moderation Management, a support network for people learning to reduce their drinking to healthier levels.

When the pandemic hit, I moved our in-person meeting to Zoom, and all of a sudden we started getting people from all over the country, says Karpen. As it seemed, a lot of women were taking stock of their alcohol consumption and had started worrying that they were drinking too much. People were really addressing their drinking and taking the time to do some self-examination. So I started to also offer my Conscious Drinking Workshop on Zoom.

Karpen follows the Harm Reduction approach that empowers the individual to set their own goals. Its not about encouraging people to stop drinking, but rather to figure out individually how much alcohol use feels ok to them. Im offering tools that can help participants access their inner wisdom around drinking; a mindfulness approach that can help them reduce stress in all areas of their lives.

But how do we even know if we may have been drinking a little too much to cope with the quarantine stress?

I found that most people are not in denial, but have a sense that they may be drinking too much, because it doesnt feel good. Maybe they are not waking up as clear-headed as they used to, or they dont like the feeling of depending on something, and theyre having a hard time reining in the habits on their own.

The workshops are all about bringing the unconscious to the conscious and becoming aware: of how much we are actually drinking, of what the craving feels like, what triggers the stress and the habit-loop, and what kind of reward we are truly after. Participants get to know the inner critic, the inner negotiator, and the inner rebel: How are these parts talking to us, what are their tactics? Are they bullies or are they nice? Trying to be our friends or shame us?

Karpen herself has experienced the pandemic in the Upper West Side as mindfully and curiously as her long-standing meditation practice has taught her. I have a lot of disaster preparedness tools and know that life is always in flux, she says. The root cause of most suffering and stress is wanting things to be different than they are. But if you just accept what is happening and start to view it with a sense of curiosity, you might find that gentle curiosity is the antidote to stress!

The next Conscious Drinking 101: A Group Coaching Workshop for Women starts Thursday, September 15th. You can learn more here.Beej also offers free meditation classes via Zoom on Tuesday Mornings. Click here for information.

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Started Drinking a Little Too Much During Quarantine? This Upper West Sider Teaches You How to Moderate - westsiderag.com

With state and federal regulations constantly changing and often difficult to understand, small businesses are at a disadvantage when it comes to compliance. Thats a dangerous position to be in, particularly in the self-storage industry, where many facility operators wear too many hats. If youre the owner, your main job is to set the vision for the company and empower those who work for and around you to achieve it. Instead, owning self-storage is more complicated than ever.

Outsourcing your weaknesses is sometimes the best way to move your company forward. It allows you to work with experts in other fields, so you can focus on your strengths. When it comes to accountingauditing, billpay, financial statements, payroll, etc.you dont want to fall short. Lets see how a third-party service provider can help you navigate this side of the business so you can concentrate on your core competencies.

Outsourcing your day-to-day accounting can save you time and reduce the risk of employee theft. It should also mean the following tasks get done correctly.

Auditing. While you can and should regularly conduct your own operational audits, its helpful to engage an outside auditor once per year to do an in-depth review of your systems and processes. We all become blind to what we see every day, and its hard to look at your own company with fresh eyes. I cant tell you how many times Ive discovered self-storage units during an audit that werent listed in the property-management system, much to the owners surprise.

Having an independent third party check your operation annually can provide many benefits. Itll help you discover new opportunities for revenue growth, feel confident that you have the right systems in place and know procedures are followed. In other words, itll help you run your asset in the best way possible.

Billpay. An accounting professional will use a billpay system that allows you to approve or deny all expenses as they come in. The system will have a built-in audit trail, so you can easily see all approvals and pay bills electronically. Your supplier should provide a timeline for when accounting is reconciled and be able to read reports from your self-storage management software.

Financial statements. All income should be derived from the self-storage management system and reconciled through bank statements. This ensures all revenue collected clears the bank. Accurately recording revenue in categories will allow you to see where your money comes from and make it easier to sell your property should you ever wish to exit the business. Income should be divided into rent, late fees, admin fees, merchandise, insurance commission, etc. Sales tax should be appropriately recorded and filed each month.

Payroll. Outsourcing this task ensures your business is following all state guidelines and labor laws. Payroll rules can change, and companies should be proactive in updating clients about new regulations. This can be a lifesaver for a self-storage operator who simply doesnt have time to stay up to date with every new law. Its a full-time job.

As you begin your search for accounting support, youll need to answer these key questions:

Local or national? Do you prefer to work with a local provider or a national one? Local companies tend to know your market better, are able to meet in person, and can have insight a national supplier wont have. However, youre also limited in your options. There may not be a self-storage accounting expert in your area, so youll have to pick the best fit from whats available.

National providers usually have more varied experience since they have a broader view, including self-storage knowledge. They can bring insight and ideas from various areas that may work in your market. Youll have more choices. Outsourcing your accounting to a national company is a simple process if the supplier has technology in place.

Small or large? Smaller companies tend to be more hands-on, relationship-based and focused on personal service. Theyll treat you like a person, not a number. They live and breathe by their customer base, so theyll typically work harder to make you happy.

Larger companies have more resources and are able to move your account if necessary. They may also save you money, since they can offer discounts and incentives a smaller provider cant. Of course, that may come as a trade for a less personal customer-service experience.

Person or process? Think about whether you want to work with a person or a process. When outsourcing payroll, for example, its easy to pick process. Payroll should be the same each month, and you dont need anyones expertise to do it. It doesnt need interpretation. Once its set up correctly, its basically on autopilot.

Other accounting tasks, however, are more hands-on. Recording and reconciling the numbers is the first step. Having an accountant whos an expert in self-storage adds value, since he should be able to interpret the numbers and tie them to operational strategies for business improvement. You can hire a company that automates accounting and still get reconciled financial statements; however, youll have to do the interpretive work to know how to move your business forward.

Cost or benefit? Many owners simply want the lowest cost for the task and overlook the benefit theyll receive by paying the right person. If a task requires no interpretation, is easily repeatable and can be set in a system, then paying the lowest price makes sense. If you need to talk to someone, get help or have the information explained to you, then you want the benefit of the work, not necessarily the work itself.

For example, preparing a financial statement is relatively systematic. Reading a financial statement and understanding what tasks need to be accomplished during the next quarter to move the numbers in the right direction is the benefit.

As you interview accounting experts, consider the best fit for your business. The cost can vary significantly throughout the industry. You have a couple of options:

A local certified public accountant (CPA) or bookkeeper. Most CPAs can do self-storage bookkeeping, but they may not know the nuances of the management software and business. They likely wont be able to read your software reports and, thus, wont know how to interpret the numbers to record everything correctly.

An accounting firm that specializes in self-storage. The right company will have experience in facility operation. Some providers are really software companies that have added bookkeeping to their list of services. Without an operational background, some can only offer you a financial statement; they cant necessarily help with strategies that will positively affect it. Working with a self-storage expert who also happens to provide accounting and compliance services is a benefit to most owners, since they speak the same operational language.

Anyone handling your bookkeeping shouldnt just code and reconcile the numbers. They should gather the information from the management software, confirm that your manager is depositing all money received, accurately record sales tax as a liability separate from income, and alert you to problems before they snowball.

Missing deposits, fraudulent credit-card charges, units that disappear from the management system and missing payments from the tenant-insurance company are just some of the issues an outsourced provider can help unearth, not to mention strategic opportunities that could make the business much more money. Your accountant should be well-versed in self-storage, watch your financial back and help make sure everything is correct and accounted for.

Outsourcing your accounting is a personal decision. Think about whether you want to go with a large company that has more resources or a smaller provider thats more likely to offer a personal touch. It should be the beginning of a long relationship in which you receive more benefits from the service than if you had kept the tasks in-house.

Magen Smith is a co-founder of Atomic Storage Group, a boutique self-storage management company, and owner of Magen Smith CPA, an outsourced accounting firm specializing in self-storage. Shes also a partner in Safe Space Development, which builds self-storage properties. Magen started in the industry as a facility manager and has held nearly every operational role. She has a passion for the industry, helping owners improve their businesses, teaching asset management and conducting self-storage audits. To reach her, e-mail magen@selfstoragecpa.com.

Read more:
Outsourcing the Accounting Aspects of Your Self-Storage Operation - Inside Self-Storage

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Earlier this week Nova Entertainment revealed it had appointed Rachel Corbett as new head of podcasts and digital entertainment.

See also: After split with Acast, Nova Entertainment signs new podcast A team

In addition to what Corbett told Mediaweekabout her new role on Tuesday, we also asked her about what will happen to her PodSchool training business.

Corbett said she has spent many hours working on PodSchool since its 2016 launch and shes not about to let it die. One of the reasons she left Mamamia was to devote some more time to PodSchool. Its such an important thing for me. I am looking to hire some people to help with PodSchool while I look after Nova, she told Mediaweek.

With PodSchool its always a cool feeling when I hear from someone that they have actually launched a podcast.

Corbett has also been consulting, and hosting, a Google podcast series called Rethink. Now three episodes in since its July launch, Corbett will wind up the series before she starts with Nova. Guests on the series so far have included Ashley Chang, head of culture and trends at YouTube, APAC, Simon Joyce, CEO and founder at Emotive, and YouTube creator Marion Grasby.

Listen to Rethinkhere.

While Corbett has co-hosted a range of different podcasts during her audio journey, her deal with Nova Entertainment doesnt call for her to be part of the talent. I would never say I will not host another show in case the right opportunity presents itself.If we created a show and it made sense for me to host it then the opportunity is there. It will be more likely though I will be behind the scenes getting other people to host shows.

Corbett doesnt have a weekly schedule of podcasts she listens to. I have a very eclectic mix of shows that I love, she explained to Mediaweek. I am always listening to new and different things. I dont have one genre I am obsessed with as I move from one to another. I also like things that dont fit in a particular genre. I am just a sucker for a good idea. Ill listen to anything, she admitted.

When asked about tips for squeezing in as many podcasts as possible each week, Corbett said: Podcasting has become such a big thing in part because it is all about the multitask.I always listen when I am walking, when I go to the shops, when I drive in the car. Whenever there is a moment that could be filled with some noise, I do podcasts. There is also nothing wrong with consuming the content in bits and finishing it whenever you can. They are my secrets. I listen to a lot of shows and I feel like I dont have a lot of time.

Prolific PodcastOne host Sarah Grynbergthought she would be wrapping up season four of her Life of Greatnessseries about now. However the recent episodes have generated her most downloads ever. With the help of some extra guests, including a new recording this week with author Mark Manson, she is extending the season.

But thats not her only news she has a spin-off series of short episodes launching on PodcastOne where she shares learnings across four seasons of interviews. And major publisher alert if you are reading this Grynberg has also published an e-book called Finding Greatness: Your Life Guide.

Mark Manson has an amazing way of seeing the world and it was awesome speaking with him, Grynberg told Mediaweek. He was very frank about his upbringing, talking about his childhood in Texas and his parents. Hearing his life story gives us a better understanding of who Mark is. He talked about how he thought at the age of 32 he had achieved everything he wanted to in life and that led him to be really depressed.

Grynberg told Mediaweekhow critical it is for her to be fully prepared for every interview. No surprise that many of her guests stress she is one of the best interviews they have ever done, after a talk full of insightful questions. (Something Manson comments on during his interview too.) I will never interview anybody where I dont know their work. I have also learnt much from my years as a radio and podcast producer listening to other people do interviews.

The Life of Greatnessseason started with Hughesyand the diverse guest list has also included Rabbi Laibl Wolfand now Manson.

Three weeks ago Grynberg released Finding Greatnessas an e-book. The idea is to allow people to achieve their own greatness via very easy tips and advice I have learnt during my own journey.

Sounds like something that deserves a major publisher to jump on board to share to a bigger audience. Also coinciding with the book is a new series of short-form podcasts from Grynberg called Unlock the Greatness Within. Every Friday we will publish five-minute episodes with me talking about self-improvement and wellness topics. Subjects include choosing love over fear, kindness and I also share my daily routine and habits you can adopt to lead a great life.

Listen to a Life of Greatnesshere.

Fear and Greedis an imaginatively titled daily business podcast that aims to set the listener up for a successful day and is building a following after its launch in May this year. Every weekday morning, business news is summarised in less than 20 minutes from economist and former Fairfax Media executive and editor Sean Aylmer. After editing The Sydney Morning Heraldin 2012, Aylmer moved on to be Fairfax editorial director across its metro dailies for over four years.

The new podcast promises to deliver its business content in less than 20 minutes and new episodes are published before 6.30am daily and there is a special weekend episode too.

In addition to host Aylmer, the podcast is produced by former head of content for Macquarie Media Michael Thompson. Head of operations for the podcast business is former Macquarie Media CEO Adam Lang.

The podcast industry in Australia is ripe with talented former Macquarie Media executives. One of the pioneers in the space here is former Macquarie Media chief Rob Loewenthalwho founded Whooshkaa.

See also our separate item this week on changes at Talent Corp too.

Tomorrow in Mediaweek: Adam Lang on his new audio adventure.

Listen to Fear and Greedhere.

SpokenLayer has announced its expansion into Australia with the launch of SpokenLayer Australia in partnership with SCA.

SpokenLayer is the leading US provider of short form audio content for voice assistants, smart speakers and podcast platforms. The company specialises in the creation, distribution and monetisation of short form audio content in partnership with publishers and brands.

The end-to-end solution turns text into human voiced audio which is then distributed to Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and a number of other platforms.

SCA CEO Grant Blackleysaid: Were excited to partner with SpokenLayer as it enters the Australian market and SCA has a depth of professional voices across Australia. Audio is an incredibly innovative medium, and with smart speaker ownership growing and Australians spending more time at home, were seeing demand for text to voice grow dramatically. We see these text-to-voice briefings as complementary to our existing assets in podcasting and radio streaming giving advertisers access to a highly engaged and growing digital audience.

SpokenLayer recently launched daily news briefings for five publications as part of a new partnership with Australian Community Media (ACM). Led by The Canberra Times, the ACM partnership will also see SpokenLayer producing and distributing daily briefings for The Ballart Courier, The Launceston Examiner, The Border Mailand The Illawarra Mercury.

SpokenLayer already partners with leading US publishers such as Hearst, Time and Cond Nast, producing content for more than 200 titles including Techcrunch, Times The Brief, The Economistand The Los Angeles Times. The ACM titles will add to its growing Australian roster which includes a daily gaming news update from leading gaming publisher Press Start and the Coronavirus Australia Daily Update.

SpokenLayer country manager ANZ Michael Richardson(pictured) said: Theres a real appetite from our smart speaker partners for human voiced short from audio content. With consumption exploding in recent months now is the right time for companies to build their audience in audio. Our partnership with SCA will help drive this growth.

Podcast Weekwrote about the new Steve Pricepodcast On the Recordlate last month. The series is one of the offerings from the new audio business Talent Corp launched by former 2GB sales boss Mark Noakesin partnership with former 2GB colleagues Ruth Thompson, Ross Greenwoodand Mike ORegan. Greenwood also hosts a Talent Corp podcast The Money Minutesand the series is being hosted on the Whooshkaa platform.

See also: Steve Price On the Record

Since we published that story we have an update on the team running Talent Corp. Noakes and his colleagues have found room for one more Macquarie Media colleague. Former Macquarie Media executive chairman Russell Tate(pictured) has come on board as chairman of Talent Corp.

The second season of Podshapes This is Mepodcast features former radio announcer Craig Evans(pictured with his family) talking about the horror of being told he had testicular cancer.

Evans co-hosted the Craig & Mandybreakfast show on the NSW Central Coast for over three years back in 2012. He also worked as a weekend announcer more recently for a number of years at Nova 100 in Melbourne.

Evans is working as a paralegal and is studying to be a lawyer. Just five weeks ago he learnt about his medical diagnosis that saw doctors tell him they would have to remove one of his testicles to save his life.

I was doing burpees at the gym when I noticed one of my plums was bigger than it should be, I thought it was weird but I didnt worry about it, said Evans. I told my girlfriend and she said go and get it checked out. Within days I was booked in to have it removed.

Evans is a new father and this news shocked him, but at the same time he is positive that it was caught in time. In the first episode of the new season of This is Me, Evans gives a first-hand account of his life changing moment.

Podshape founder, and former Nova colleague of Evans, Jay Walkerdensaid: Ive known Craig for a number of years and he was always a positive and funny bloke with the world at his feet. When we heard of his story we wanted to make sure we could help share it and encourage other young blokes to give themselves a check.

Listen to This is Mehere.

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Podcast Week: New Sarah Grynberg series and book, SpokenLayer arrives - Mediaweek

It is a more diverse outfit than many of its detractors assume, John Dickie argues

Aug 29th 2020

The Craft: How the Freemasons Made the Modern World. By John Dickie.PublicAffairs; 496 pages; $32. Hodder & Stoughton; 25.

SINCE THEY first came to prominence in the alehouses of 18th-century London, the Freemasons have proved adept at self-promotion. From their blindfolded initiation ceremony, obscure rituals and symbols and infamous handshake, the organisation has grasped the powerful attraction of mystery as a recruiting tool. Today the secret society has around 6m members, most of them in America.

Conspiracists have long speculated that these individuals are part of a secret world order, with ties to the Illuminati and satanic cults. Debunking these theories is relatively easy, but in his new book John Dickie goes much further. Based on years of research into the archives of the Grand Lodges, he has produced a global history of the organisation, explaining how the brand spread far beyond Europe. The Craft is a fascinating tale of imperial trade, warfare and scientific progress which presents the Masons as a response to the broader development of the modern world.

In their simplest form the Freemasons are groups of (almost exclusively) men, who undertake to pursue a beautiful system of morality and self-improvement according to a symbolic code. Their society is united by pledges to defend rational, enlightenment values, and over the centuries has attracted many high-profile members, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Winston Churchill and Walt Disney. In this account, however, Mr Dickie veers away from celebrity biography to focus on the broader membership. His characters are idealists and misfitspolitical exiles and refugees, traumatised soldiers, addicts who have overcome their vices. Their organisation, says Mr Dickie, is essentially a network of patronage. But he emphasises how many Masons treat its values of friendship, respect, integrity and charity as genuine anchors in their lives, not simply as window dressing for a practical agenda.

It is tempting to see the Masons as an elite clique of white, male, middle-class gatekeepers. And that has often been true. But the outfit described in The Craft is more diverse. In early modern Europe, Mr Dickie writes, the Lodges were among the few places where men from different classes could socialise. The Masons wore (and still wear) gloves during their meetings so that no Brother can tell the difference between the hands of a Duke and the hands of a dustman. Slaves were forbidden to join, but several American branches, such as that led by Prince Hall, a black leatherworker from Boston, played a role in the abolitionist struggle. In theory the Masons do not accept females, yet Mr Dickie meets Olivia Chaumont, who in 2007 became the orders first transgender member.

Most books about the Masons speculate on the extent to which they have shaped history. Mr Dickie is more interested in the opposite question. He shows how reactionaries have consistently projected their darkest fears onto the society. In 18th-century Lisbon, as the Inquisition entered its decline, the Catholic authorities presented the Masons as an illicit gay cult. After the French revolution the English feared them as Jacobin agitators; Hitler and Mussolini ranked them among fascisms most dangerous foes.

For all that, in moments of violence and political chaos the Masons have tended to come out on top. Mr Dickie is also a historian of the Mafia, and he suggests a connection between Italian Lodges and organised-crime syndicates. Some leading Masons, such as Licio Gelli, the head of Italys P2 Lodge in the 1970s, have collaborated profitably with terrorists and money-launderers. According to a former Grand Master in Calabria, 28 out of 32 Lodges in the region were known to be controlled by the Ndrangheta as recently as the 1990s.

The Craft is a well-researched account that dismantles any lingering suspicion that the Freemasons are preparing for world domination. Almost all such calumnies assume they have some form of central governmentMr Dickie makes clear that there is no such thing. While the Lodges share some core principles, they are remarkably various. Masons have been revolutionaries and reactionaries, progressives and conservatives. By chronicling these shifts, Mr Dickie has turned legend into history.

This article appeared in the Books & arts section of the print edition under the headline "Inside the Lodge"

Link:
A global history of the Freemasons - The Economist

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kyle Massey, 29; Jason Priestley, 51; Jack Black, 51; Shania Twain, 55.

Happy Birthday: You are sitting in a unique position. You have the means to get what you want, but if you let the little things get to you, youll find it challenging to reach your destination. Concentrate on whats important, and pay attention to maintaining your values, sticking to your budget and achieving what you set out to do. Make self-improvement and expanding your interests your priorities. Your numbers are 5, 17, 22, 26, 33, 37, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Do your part to ensure completion of any project in which you participate. Dont let anyone coerce you into an argument. Take care of business, and move on to more enjoyable pastimes. Be moderate when involved in physical activities. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Get the lowdown before you agree to something someone wants from you. Put your plans first and foremost. You are responsible for what you accomplish, so make it count. Romance is in the stars, so take time to nurture a meaningful relationship. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Make adjustments to your living space or arrangements. Dont put up with something or someone who brings you down or causes you grief. Keep your life simple, affordable and clutter-free. Call the shots and follow your dreams. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Its up to you how you use pent-up emotional energy. You can blame others for things you dont have or didnt do, or you can embrace what life has to offer and turn your ideas into something concrete. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Strategize and formulate the best plan possible before you leap into action. Being prepared will help you alleviate setbacks and interference. Someone from your past will vouch for you or recommend you for a job that is a perfect fit. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Shoot for the stars. Take on a new project, or take care of unfinished business. Today is about progress, closing deals and being responsible for your happiness. Participation will be what leads to being on the inside of any organization you join. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Face facts. If something isnt right, recognize the problem and do something about it. The longer you let someone push you around, the harder it will be to break away and do your own thing. Dont get angry; get moving. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Serious talks will resolve pending problems. Learn from similar experiences, and take care of business before someone beats you at your own game. You have plenty to gain if you are determined to do things your way. Romance is favored. 4 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Envision what needs to be done, and get started. Enlist people who can contribute valuable information conducive to reaching your objective. That will enable you to get ahead with your strategy. Be aware that someone close to you may offer false hope. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Reconnecting with someone who has inspired you will be enlightening. An open conversation will make you realize how much you have in common with each other and what you can accomplish as a team. A romantic celebration is encouraged. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Dont feel you have to abide by someones rules or follow someones lead. Aim to please yourself, not someone who is taking advantage of you. Living a lie will not help you get ahead. Someone will reveal a secret. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take the throttle, run the ship and dont look back. Say whats on your mind, and you will gain ground quickly. Share your feelings and intentions with someone you love. A commitment will lead to a new beginning. 4 stars

Birthday Baby: You are courageous, dependable and determined. You are competitive and savvy.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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Gemini: Ignore those looking to stir the pot or bring you down - The Bethel Citizen

JoJo delivered the best gift to her fans back in May in the form of 'Good to Know' her first album in four years and her first since departing Atlantic Records. The R&B album was promoted with the single 'Lonely Hearts' in April, with the single 'Man' being released previously in March along with a music video that had cameos from Ari Lennox, Tinashe, JinJoo, Francia Raisa and JoJo Gomez.

'Good to Know' dropped to widespread critical acclaim with many noting that JoJo's growth as a singer and songwriter was the crux of the release's mature, cohesive sound. JoJo has now returned with a deluxe version of the album, preceded by the release of a new single, 'What U Need'. The new album includes five new tracks, a feature from Demi Lovato on 'Lonely Hearts' and Tinashe on 'Love Reggae', and the omission of Tory Lanez from the track 'Comeback' following his recent involvement in the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.

Joanna Nolle Levesque, known to her fans as JoJo, debuted with the smash hit 'Leave (Get Out)' and her self-titled album in 2004. Her instant claim to fame was her unparalleled vocals, something most people could hardly believe was emerging from a 13-year-old. It shocked people even more when they learned the young singer was writing her own music. Cut to nearly two decades later and JoJo is still managing to floor audiences with both her vocals and songwriting. 'Good to Know' was most notable for its development of JoJo's artistry. The singer has steadily veered more into more overt sexual themes layered on top of some extremely sensual sounds, but in addition to the maturity in her lyrical themes, the growth in both JoJo's vocals as well as the production on her tracks is readily audible.

But 'Good to Know' is additionally JoJo's most personal record to date. In particular, she chronicles her turbulent journey in the music business, which included a decade-long legal battle for her freedom from her first label Blackground Records, on the album's opening lyrics "Look at me now..." and with that, it is evident JoJo's growth includes a recognition of her own worth and healing from the trauma of having her career "irreparably damaged," as her 2013 lawsuit against Blackground noted.

Standouts from the deluxe version naturally include the duet with JoJo and Lovato. Arguably two of the best vocalists of the current generation, this is a dream team nobody would have predicted we would see in this lifetime. But given the song's focus on self-improvement, self-love and escaping the clutches of codependency, it serves as the perfect vehicle for an epic collaboration. Lovato manages to keep up with JoJo on her most complex runs, a trait she is widely known for, and both singers belt and harmonize in perfect unison. It's a shame we may not get to see this track performed live any time soon, but at least we get to hear this masterpiece on this record for now.

The five new tracks including 'Love Reggae' featuring Tinashe are all absolutely gorgeous R&B tunes with a bit of pop layered in. 'X (1 Thing Wrong)', however, is easily the highlight from the new lot. The slowed-down reverb and bass-heavy track is one of the best R&B tracks to come out this year and has JoJo at her singing and songwriting best.

An overall highlight with this whole release is its stellar production that gives us some gorgeous instrumentals paired with vocals that aren't overproduced or polished to excess. Essentially, we get a rawness in JoJo's voice that truly highlights just why she is one of the best vocalists in the game. Additionally, getting to hear JoJo love herself, especially in light of everything she has been put through at the hands of the music industry executives, is an absolute treat. 'Good to Know' is a stunning release that deserves every bit of the acclaim it has received thus far, and the deluxe version just drives that point further home.

'Good to Know' is out now across digital streaming platforms.

Originally posted here:
'Good to Know' Review: JoJo forms dream team with Demi Lovato, Tinashe in sultry album that cut out Tory Lanez - MEAWW

Whether you are just entering the workforce or have been in a specific working field for years, there is always room to improve your skills and open yourself to the advice of an expert. Though you may think of yourself as someone who doesnt need to learn or that you have life figured out, all of us can benefit from being mentored, whether it be in our career path or life in general.

Mentorship can benefit you in several different ways, as it can enhance your life, facilitate growth in your career path, spark personal development, and much more. Maybe you feel as if your work or job position is stagnant and want to advance, or perhaps youre looking for ways to improve your self in all areas of your life- regardless of the need, a mentor is perfect for these types of issues.

Recognizing that you want or need a mentor is one thing, but finding a good mentor can be overwhelming and stressful if you dont know how to go about it. Are you someone trying to find a good mentor but dont know where to start? Unsure of the benefits of having a good mentor? This comprehensive guide will give you all the information you need to know about finding a mentor and how one can enhance your life!

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What is a Mentor?

Oftentimes, people tend to think the titles mentor and coach are the same, and while they are similar in terms of what each entails, there is a definite difference between the two. While a coach typically offers some sort of developmental help, it is only for a short period of time. A mentorship, however, is more lengthy, according to F. John Reh of The Balance. He elaborates on this, writing, Mentoring consists of a long-term relationship focused on supporting the growth and development of the mentee. Thementorbecomes a source of wisdom, teaching, and support, but not someone who observes and advises on specific actions or behavioral changes in daily work.

In other words, a mentor is a personal cheerleader, giving you insightful encouragement and advice on how to change your perspective on yourself, your job, your life, etc. With an understanding of what a mentor is and what a mentor does, lets dive into the benefits of having a mentor, the qualities to look for in a good mentor, and how to find one!

Networking:No matter what your field of work is, networking is an important component to expanding your career and broadening your contact pool. With a mentor, you not only benefit from the connection you have with him/her, but you also can benefit from their connections as well. While your mentor can help you with different kinds of problems, they can also lead you in the direction of colleagues, friends, or work acquaintances that can give you additional advice, expose you to work environments or careers, and help you build your connections.

Accountability:Whether it be in a professional environment or your personal life, there are always goals that we want to achieve. When we set goals by ourselves, it can be easy to fall back on those goals and become lackadaisical in regards to completing the goals. With a mentor, not only can he/she help you set short and long term goals, but they can also give you meaningful advice as to how to put your goals into action and accomplish them. By having a mentor, you can be held accountable for your flaws, your strengths, the things you want to change, and the goals you wish to accomplish!

Personal Development:Among the various benefits that a mentorship, perhaps the most beneficial aspect is the growth and personal development that you experience along the way. In a work atmosphere or simply in the broader aspects of your life, there should always be room for self-improvement, whether it be work skills, behavioral flaws/setbacks, or simply a bad mindset. In a blog post by Monster, theywrite, Your mentor is the office equivalent of that friend who calls you out if youre out of line. By telling you your strengths and your weaknesses, he or she will help you gain self-awareness, respect your colleagues more, and become a better team player. In short, theyll help you build your character.

Perspective:When struggling in a situation, whether it be work-related or personal, friends and family can be great sources to go to for meaningful advice. The only problem? Family and friends carry natural biases, which can lead them to give tips or advice based on how they feel about you or your relationship with them. While this advice can definitely be respected, a mentors perspective is much more objective and useful, which can give you clarity and a fresh, new perspective on how to solve even your most complicated issues. Dont worry, giving mom a call doesnt hurt too!

Problem Solving:No one likes handling a problem alone. In your work environment, or even in your personal life, tackling an overwhelming problem is never easy, especially if the problem involves someone you are close with (i.e. a boss, colleague, or spouse). Among the broad personal development growth, a mentor can help you solve problems in any realm by giving your mature, relevant, and appropriate advice for any situation. Sarah Price, a blog writer for Surf Careers furtheremphasizesthis, saying, Their experience and insight can stop you from making mistakes and can give you the answers rather than you having to waste valuable time and money working out the right way to handle the situation.

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When trying to find a good mentor, it can be easy to pick whatever person first comes your way. Ultimately in your search, you want to make sure your prospective mentor has these following qualities, as it will not only make the experience fulfilling for you but also for your mentor!

Expertise or Knowledge in Relevant Field: Though this is an obvious trait to look for, it is nonetheless an important one when finding a mentor that will bring the best out of you. You will want your prospective mentor to have a reasonable amount of expertise and knowledge in a field relevant to you and your work. Whether you are more the artsy type, or in a white-collar job, choosing a mentor with relevant knowledge in your industry will help you gain meaningful information, broaden your perspectives, and grow in your field. In addition, the shared experience of being in the same field will bring both of you together, which can only develop your relationship more.

Passion/Enthusiasm for Sharing the Expertise: Just as it is important for a mentor to be knowledgeable in your industry/field of work, it is also key for a mentor to have a passion and enthusiasm for sharing that knowledge. Some mentors are guilty of being condescending, arrogant, or downright rude in terms of sharing their expertise, leaving the mentee feeling belittled, insignificant, and mistreated. Remember, your goal is to better yourself and grow in your career. If you have a mentor that does anything to make you feel the opposite, he/she is not a good fit for you, and most likely is not a good fit to be a mentor at all.

Empathetic/Understanding Attitude: Sure, the mentor can relate to you because you both have similar career backgrounds, but does he/she understand you on a personal level? Do they empathize with the current problems or issues you may be experiencing in your career or life in general? When looking for a good mentor, you want to ensure that they have an empathetic and understanding attitude toward you. This attitude gives you the ability to grow and thrive in each aspect of your life without judgment. Alyse Kalish of The Muse comments on this, stating, Oftentimes people try to impose their own beliefs or ways of approaching things on others, and this can be a good mentors downfall. So find someone you can trust to take your values and input into account over their own.

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The Ability to Give Honest and Constructive Feedback:On the contrary, while you want a mentor that is emphatic and understanding, you also want a mentor that can give you honest and constructive feedback, as such is necessary to overcome certain obstacles, change bad behaviors, and ultimately grow as a person and in your career. A good mentor will be respectful, genuine, and always have your best interests in mind. If your mentor suspects you are going down a wrong path or perhaps not making the right choices, they will not hold back in telling you that youre not doing the right thing in order to preserve your feelings.

Willingness to Sponsor You:A mentors job is to support and advise you so you can grow and develop your personal and workplace skills. While a mentor is a great person to have in your corner, if your mentor also actively wants to sponsor you, thats even better. What is the difference between a mentor and a mentor who sponsors you? Better Allieswritesin an article from The Muse that sponsors, vocally support the work of colleagues from underrepresented groups in all contexts, but specifically in situations that will help boost those colleagues standing and reputations.

Start with Your Manager: Depending on your relationship with your manager, you may or may not want to start with them. If you have a good standing with your manager and they are open to helping you out, ask your manager who they would recommend. As your manger is higher than you in terms of their work title, they are likely to know various individuals who would be open to mentoring you. Going about it this way is the simplest, as you interact with your manager on a regular basis and dont have to do an extensive personal search.

Work with Human Resources: If going to your manager first is not an option, your next option is to work with your companys human resources department (if your company has one- most typically do). Contact HR and tell them about your mentor-seeking journey and ask for help. Through HR, you can find different mentoring options that your company might offer.

Search Within the Company You Work For: Youve exhausted your resources in contacting your manager and consulting with human resources, what next? Searching within the company you work for is a great option to find a mentor. Though it can require more energy and work from you, it can be beneficial to reach out to an individual personally rather than through someone else, i.e. a manager or HR worker. Victor Lipman of Forbes suggests, If theres someone else in your company a manager or executive either in your part of the operation or in another area whom you highly respect and feel you could learn from, just go ahead and ask them yourself if theyll mentor you. Before you do this, Victor notes to inform your direct manager that youll be doing this, for transparency!

Be Someone Who is Enjoyable to Mentor: While it may seem like so much of a mentorship relies on the mentor, it relies significantly on you as well! As a mentee, you want to be someone who is enjoyable to mentor, meaning someone who is receptive to what your mentor tells you, actively executing ways to better yourself, and working hard to ensure their work and energy does not go to waste. Kathy Caprino of Forbes poses these important questions to ask yourself, Are you somebody you yourself would like to mentor? Are you open, flexible, resilient, respectful? Are you eager to learn, and committed to modifying how youre interacting in the world so you can have even more success, reward, and happiness? Answering these questions can give you a greater perspective on what you can do to ensure a healthy mentor/mentee relationship takes place.

Put Yourself in Mentors Shoes: People say that empathy is the ability to walk in someone elses shoes or see life from their perspective. Within your mentor relationship, try to put yourself in their shoes to help you understand their position, viewpoints, and perspective. In other words, be someone that is a joy to be mentored!

When it comes to finding a mentor, there are several different factors you want to consider. Evaluate the benefits of having a mentor, look for specific qualities in your prospective mentor, and take the appropriate steps within your work field to find the mentor best for you and your personality. Once you follow those steps, selecting a good mentor for you will be no problem, and will get you on the right path to growing in your life!

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Finding a Good Mentor: What You Need to Know - Uloop News

Sarah Edmondson was a struggling actress when she became fascinated with the self-improvement philosophies of NXIVM. A torturous initiation into a secret society within the group changed her mind.

Sarah Edmondson once believed the self-proclaimed personal development program known as NXIVM was the answer to finding true fulfillment and happiness but as she delved deeper into the organization and uncovered its darkest secrets, she would become one of the organizations most outspoken opponents.

Edmondson played a pivotal role in NXIVMs downfall, speaking out in an October 2017New York Times article about the disturbing branding ritual she had participated in as part of a secret sisterhood within the group.

I wept the whole time, she saidof nearly 30-minute procedure to sear a symbol below her hip. I disassociated out of my body.

Keith Raniere, the groups leader would be arrested in Mexico months later, in March 2018, for operating the alleged sex cult.

Raniere was ultimately convicted in June 2019 on seven charges, including two counts of sex trafficking, racketeering and forced labor conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Eastern District of New York.

Edmondsonwho estimates she helped recruit 2,000 members during her 12 years with NXIVMis now haunted by her role pushing that BS to others.

I have a lot of guilt about the people I brought in, but if theres one thing I can hang my hat on, its that I never lied. I thought Keith Raniere was the greatest, wisest, most brilliant man on Earth, she told Refinery29last September. I had no idea what was going on with the women and everything that came out in the FBIs investigation.

Edmondsonwho shared her story in the new HBO docuseries The Vowmay have helped bring down one of the nations most shocking cults, but when she first joined the group in her late 20s she was searching for purpose.

The actress had found some success on the small screen, but was also living in a $400-a-month basement apartment, struggling to make ends meet.

I was challenged in my relationship, challenged in my career, she said in The Vow. I had this idea that maybe Id become a famous actor and use my celebrity to have a voice or have an impact on the world. That wasnt happening.

When her filmmaker boyfriend got accepted at a cinema festival at sea, she decided to go along and figure out my purpose in life, she said.

It was there she first crossed path with Mark Vicente, a writer, director and cinematographer who had been on the creative team behind the spiritual documentary What The #$*! Do We (K)now?!

Vicente was already immersed in NXIVM at the time and sat at the same table withEdmondson, who had a persistent cough.

Vicente asked Edmondson what she would lose if she stopped coughing.

I had the awareness instantly that I had linked sickness and attention, Edmondson recalled in the docu-series. I was trying to get my boyfriends attention. I was like Oh my gosh my whole life Ive been so sick as a means for attention.

She felt better the next day and discovered she really liked and respected Vicentewho began casually discussing his connection to NXIVM.

He underplayed it, she said. If anything, I was more interested in working with him and doing whatever he was doing.

Edmondson soon enrolled in one of NXIVMs five-day Executive Success Program training sessions.

At the time I was living in a basement suite where my rent was $400 a month, so for me to spend thousands of dollars on my personal growth was obscene, but I really wanted to change and I really wanted to make that leap, so I put it on my credit card and signed up for the next training, she said.

But it wasnt love at first sight. Edmondsonnow a mother to two boyssaid she found the run-down Holiday Inn where the training was held underwhelming and said the aesthetics and presentations had a totally 80s vibe.

She had a breakthrough, however, on the third day of the session when the topic turned to self-esteem and how limiting beliefs could be holding an individual back from living their best live.

I didnt have love for myself. I didnt have belief in myself, she said in the docu-series. I thought that was just the way that I was and then all of a sudden, I was like, Oh, I can systemically evolve to be the ideal version of myself to write my own character' versus Well, this is who I am.

She soon immersed herself in the self-help group, rising through its ranks to eventually become the co-founder of a Vancouver chapter and begin teaching the groups strategies to others.

I feel like I was soaring. It was almost like a magic, she said in the docuseries. I felt like I was getting downloaded a book of knowledge about people, about society, about the world in general. I really felt like I had this secret potion of understanding.

Edmondson told ABC News she eventually formed a close bond with Lauren Salzmanthe daughter of Nancy Salzman, one of the groups co-founders and top leaders.

Shes like my therapist and in the ranking system, shes also above me, she told the news outlet of her relationship with Lauren.

It was through this connection that Edmondsonwho had to call Lauren mastergot invited to an initiation for a secret sorority within the group that required each participant to give Salzman some expensive collateral to gain entry.

Salzman promised she had something really amazing to share and described the odd request this way, according to The New York Times: Its kind of strange and top secret and in order for me to tell you about it you need to give me something as collateral to make sure you dont speak about it, Edmondson recalled.

Edmonson, who was known as the slave to her master, agreed and provided naked photos of herself.

Each slave in the group, known as DOS, would pledge obedience to their master and was required to send her Master text messages within 60 seconds during training drills to demonstrate herdevotion.

The initiation ceremony took place in an Albany home. The five women in the initiation group were ordered to take off their clothes andsitnaked in a semi-circle; they weretold theyd receive a permanent reminder of their membership in the secret sorority. Edmondson thought theyd be getting small tattoos, but instead each girl was branded with a 2-inch square symbol just below the hip. Edmondson would later realize the symbol looked like KR or Ranieres initials.

It was worse than childbirth, Edmondson told ABC News. Imagine a hot laser, dragged across your flesh for 30 minutes without anesthetic.

Edmondson would later describe the trauma in the opening of her memoir Scarred.

Lying there completely naked, I am at my most vulnerable but determined to prove my strength. I try to keep my legs closed as my body wills itself to protect my most private area, she wrote. I tell myself: I am a warrior. I birthed a human. I can handle pain. But nothing could have ever prepared me for the feel of this fire on my skin."

After Edmondsons husband Anthony Ames, who was also a NXIVM member, learned about the brand, they both decided they wanted out and Edmondson began to speak publicly about her harrowing ordeal and the slow indoctrination she saidled her deeper and deeper into the organization.

If this hadnt happened to me, I would have been the first to say, What an idiot. Why didnt she just leave? The answer is that indoctrination is incredibly powerful, she told Refinery29. If you look at the branding ritual as an example, they convince you that you are triumphing over your own weakness.

Her story was also featured in the first season of the podcast Uncover.

With the experience behind her, Edmondson has gone on to find a new sense of joy.

She continues to act and do voice-over work, taking on roles in Hallmark movies Wedding of Dreams and Welcome to Christmas.

Her latest role in the television movie The Sisterhood has an eerie parallel to her own life. She plays a reporter in a story about a cult-like group of women who are forced to participate in questionable and dangerous activities.

Edmondson, who lives in Vancouver, also regularly posts photos of life with her husband and two young sons on Instagram.

But the mom of two hasnt completely left her years with NXIVM behind. Earlier this year, Edmondson, her husband and nearly 80 anonymous claimants filed a lawsuit against the leaders of NXIVM, including Seagrams liquor heiresses Sara and Clare Bronfman, for emotional and financial harm they suffered as a result of their time with the group, according to CBC.

The lawsuit describes NXIVM as a Ponzi scheme and coercive community designed to financially and emotionally abuse its followers.

Edmondson also continues to work to restore past relationships that suffered from her involvement in one of the nations most perplexing cults.

As I work to regain my personal power and move past what happened, there's a special message I have for the friends and people close to me whom I became distant from or lost contact with over the years I was a proponent of NXIVM's practices: I'm deeply sorry," she wrote in her memoir. "Hopefully, my actions and all that I share in this book will be a step towards making amends as I begin to repair the impact my 12-year journey had on those around me."

More:
Who Is Sarah Edmondson And What Role Did She Play In NXIVM (And It's Downfall)? - Oxygen

Ridley Scotts highly-anticipated new sci-fi series Raised by Wolves premieres starring Australian actor Travis Fimmel.

The two-part documentary Save This Shark follows World Champion Surfer Mick Fanning as he returns to the open waters to conquer his fear of sharks and better understand them.

Reality juggernaut Keeping Up with the Kardashians returns, giving viewers an insight into how the family dealt with being in lockdown during the pandemic.

There will be three unmissable Aussie Gold Hunters specials serving up some of the biggest moments from the shows history.

And dont miss HBO documentary series The Vow which takes an in-depth look at the controversial self-improvement group NXIVM, now facing with multiple charges

THU SEPT 3

Raised by Wolves

Ridley Scotts highly-anticipated new science fiction series Raised by Wolves focuses on two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet. As the burgeoning colony of humans threatens to be torn apart by religious differences, the androids learn that controlling the beliefs of humans is a treacherous and difficult task. Stars Australian actor Travis Fimmel, along with Amanda Collin, Abubakar Salim, Winta McGrath, Niamh Algar, Jordan Loughran, Matias Varela, Felix Jamieson, Ethan Hazzard, Aasiya Shah and Ivy Wong.

TUE SEPT 8

MOVIE DROP: Little Women starring Emma Watson

Jo March reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters four young women, each determined to live life on her own terms. Also stars Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh.

TUE SEPT 15

MOVIE DROP: Bad Boys for Life starring Will Smith

Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett must face off against a mother-and-son pair of drug lords who wreak vengeful havoc on their city. Also stars Martin Lawrence and Vanessa Hudgens.

WED SEPT 16

Save this Shark

Save This Shark is a two-part documentary that follows the 3 x World Champion Surfer turned ocean activist Mick Fanning on his mission to explore shark conservation. From his hometown of Ballina to the tropics of the Bahamas, Fanning returns to the open waters to conquer his fear of sharks and better understand them. Along the way, Fanning investigates the issue of sharks versus people, debunking common misconceptions and, learning about the latest technology helping humans and sharks safely co-exist while saving them from extinction.

FRI SEPT 18

Keeping Up with the Kardashians S18B

Season 18 returns after a mid-season break due to Covid-19. The new episodes will give viewers an insight into how the family dealt with being in lockdown during the pandemic, with footage filmed inside their homes on iPhones.

Aussie Gold Hunters Specials

The gold hunt continues with three unmissable specials that serve up some of the biggest moments from the shows history. In Countdown to the Motherlode, celebrate the top ten gold finds of all time. Surviving the Wilderness showcases the severe weather, extreme and remote landscapes, and relentless obstacles our gold hungry hunters endure. While Gold Fever delves into the obsessive quest for gold that has pushed people to their limits for centuries chasing a dream of striking it rich.

SUN SEPT 20

The Vow

This nine-part documentary series follows a number of people deeply involved in the controversial self-improvement group NXIVM over the course of several years. With remarkable access to insiders and former members, it takes an in depth look at the organisation faced with various charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, against its highest members most notably founder Keith Raniere, who was convicted in June 2019 and is currently awaiting sentencing.

MON SEPT 28

MOVIE DROP: Birds of Prey starring Margot Robbie

When one of Gothams most sinister villains, Roman Sionis, and his sadistic right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl names Cass, the citys wicked underbelly is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress, Canary and Renee Montoyas paths collide and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.

WED SEPT 30

The Great British Sewing Bee

The Great British Sewing Bee is back, with 12 sewers competing over ten weeks with the most perplexing patterns, eye-popping transformations and stunning made-to-measure garments yet. Scrutinising every stitch are Saville Rows Patrick Grant and Central Saint Martinss Esme Young, testing the sewers across a huge range of garments from rugby shirts to childrens dungarees, flamenco skirts to a boned basque.

TUE SEPT 1

MOVIE DROP Bloodshot starring Vin Diesel

Based on the bestselling comic book, Vin Diesel stars as Ray Garrison, a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation. With an army of nanotechnology in his veins, hes an unstoppable force stronger than ever and able to heal instantly. But in controlling his body, the company has sway over his mind and memories too. Now, Ray doesnt know whats real and whats not but hes on a mission to find out.

MOVIE DROP: Cocaine Godmother starring Catherine Zeta Jones

Academy Award and Tony Award-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones stars in Cocaine Godmother: The Griselda Blanco Story, a Lifetime feature based on the life of drug lord Griselda Blanco, a pioneer in the Miami-based cocaine trade.

WED SEPT 2

Doom Patrol S2

Doom Patrol follows the unlikely heroes of the titular team who all got their superpowers through tragic events and are shunned by society. The second season picks up after the group defeated Mr. Nobody and discovered Dr. Caulders dark secret that he had caused the tragic events that gave them their powers, in an effort to protect his daughter.

Animal Impossible

Tim Warwood and Adam Gendle risk life and limb to uncover the truth about animals in this eye-opening and entertaining series from the renowned BBC Studios Natural History Unit. Do cats always land on their feet? Could a squid sink a ship? Is spider silk really stronger than steel? Endlessly curious presenters Tim and Gendle want to find out.

MON SEPT 7

Ollies Pack

Ollies Packis an animated comedy about Ollie, a 13-year old boy who protects and controls a backpack portal to the world of monsters.

The Nile: 5000 Years of History

Professor Bettany Hughes sets sail on an epic journey through the history and highlights of Ancient Egypt. Travelling on her own traditional Dahabiya boat, Bettany journeys almost 1,000 miles from Cairo to the Aswan Dam on the mighty River Nile stopping off at the most iconic and dazzling sites along the way. From ancient gossip on the sex lives of the rich and famous to a close up encounter with King Tuts grandmother, this colourful travelogue interweaves mystery, revelation, stunning visuals and diverse modern-day encounters to create a unique and unforgettable journey through the highlights of Ancient Egyptian history.

THU SEPT 10

Noughts + Crosses

Adapted from the first book inMalorie Blackmans bestselling series, the much-anticipatedNoughts + Crossesis a gripping story of first love set in a dangerous, alternate world where racism divides society. Separated by their colour but united by forbidden love and burning injustice, Sephy Hadley (Masali Baduza) and Callum McGregor (Jack Rowan) are fighting for more than simply the right to be together. Sephy is a Cross, a member of the black ruling class and daughter of a prominent politician. Callum is a Nought, a white member of the underclass. The two have been friends since childhood, but thats as far as it can go. Their relationship grows ever more complicated as they come of age and against a backdrop of prejudice, distrust and rebellion, the passionate romance that builds between them will lead them both into terrible danger.

TUE SEPT 15

MOVIE DROP: Bad Boys for Life starring Will Smith

Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett must face off against a mother-and-son pair of drug lords who wreak vengeful havoc on their city. Also stars Martin Lawrence and Vanessa Hudgens.

THU SEPT 17

Friends S1-10 (Complete series drop)

The smash-hit, Emmy Award-winning comedy that influenced a generation with its unique take on the trials and tribulations of six friends living and learning about life in New York City, remains one of the most popular shows of all time.

Island of Bryan S2

In season 1, we saw Bryan and Sarah Baeumler move their family to an undeveloped island in the Bahamas to renovate a rundown resort. Season 2 picks up where season 1 left off: after a rollercoaster year of construction, the resorts grand opening date is set just a few months away. With the budget maxed out and more at stake than ever, Bryan and Sarah will have to tackle the seemingly impossible in order to transform the property into their spectacular vision: Caerula Mar Club.

Archer S11 (FOX8)

Emmy Award-winning animated comedy Archer returns its 11th season. Following Suave international spy Sterling Archer and his cohorts at a New York-based intelligence agency as they battle rival spies, exotic enemies and their own dysfunctional personalities, Season 11 is set to follow the titular super spy after he awakens from a three-year coma.

FRI SEPT 18

The Bradshaw Bunch (E!)

Legendary quarterback and television-broadcast icon and actor Terry Bradshaw gives viewers an intimate look at life in the off-season with his family.

TUE SEPT 22

Jeffrey Dahmer: Mind of Monster

This special is chillingly narrated by the words of Jeffrey Dahmer himself. The Milwaukee Cannibal raped, killed, and dismembered 17 young men between 1978 and 1991. It features audio recordings from extensive police interviews; a heart-wrenching interview with his father; Ronald Flowers, a victim who narrowly escaped murder; Dr. Park Deitz, a former psychiatrist who spent time with Dahmer; and a never-before-seen interview with Nicole Childress, a witness plagued with guilt. Home video footage offers an intimate look into his relatively normal upbringing, making his case particularly unsettling.

MOVIE DROP A Beautiful Day In the Neighbourhood starring Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys

Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in this timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his scepticism, learning about kindness, love and forgiveness from Americas most beloved neighbour.

WED SEPT 23

The West Memphis Three: An ID Murder Mystery (COMPLETE SEASON DROP)

West Memphis, Arkansas, is an American town not much different than any other. But when the parents of three young boys realize their sons are missing on the evening of May 5, 1993, the police uncover a triple homicide that turns into one of the most chilling cases in recent history. Police discover the bodies in what looks like a ritualistic murder scene, and with a demonic presence looming, the people of West Memphis suspect evil lives among them. Investigators quickly seize three teen suspects they believe are Satanists. The trio, later nicknamed the West Memphis Three, seem like the obvious suspects, but with no evidence connecting them to the cult-like killings, are they truly guilty or just easily targeted outsiders?

SAT SEPT 26

Pamela Smart: An American Murder Mystery (COMPLETE SEASON DROP)

Sex, lies, and a tale too twisted to be real surround the murder of Gregg Smart. Who killed him and why? On May 1, 1990, 22-year-old media coordinator Pamela Smart finds her husband Gregg dead on the floor of their southern New Hampshire condo, leaving the town of Derry stunned. Scouring the region for clues, police shift their attention to Greggs grieving widow, Pamela Smart, who has been making curious television appearances publicising her plight. When investigators discover Pamela has been having a sordid affair with high school student, Billy Flynn, a complicated web of lies and deceit unravel, revealing one of the most scandalous crimes of the century.

SUN SEPT 27

Aaron Hernandez: An ID Murder Mystery (COMPLETE SEASON DROP)

The story of Aaron Hernandez is one of the most stunning falls from grace in recent history. Once hailed as a hero for the New England Patriots, Hernandez is now considered an American tragedy. After beginning a promising NFL career at the age of 20, few could ever imagine he would be on trial for murder. Fans were perplexed, but as the investigation unfolded, more unknown factors were revealed. The public was exposed to the dangerous inner workings of Hernandezs psyche, seeing the anger, secrets and struggles that simmered beneath the All-American faade.

MON SEPT 28

Masterchef S16

MasterChef is back and the kitchen is open for 60 of the UKs most outstanding amateur cooks to battle it out for the 2020 title. The contestants compete over five weeks of Heats. This year they will have to cook not only for their place in the competition but also the right to wear a coveted MasterChef apron. With six contestants in each Heat and only four aprons up for grabs, the battle is fierce from the offset. John Torode and Gregg Wallace

TUE SEPT 29

Brittany Murphy: An ID Mystery

Brittany Murphy was a rising star who had it all, but she also had secrets. When found dead in her Los Angeles home at just 32 years old, legions of fans were left in disbelief. Later, her husband, Simon Monjack, and mother, Sharon Murphy, embarked on a bizarre media blitz, and within months, Monjack perished under strikingly similar circumstances. In an exclusive final interview, the late Angelo Bertolotti, Brittanys father, casts doubt on the conclusion that she died of natural causes. Brittany Murphy: An ID Mystery revisits the case through intimate interviews, in-depth access to forensic details and more.

The Lady Killers

Men kill in rage, to control, to steal, to exert powerso why and how do women kill? So often, its about lost love, a desire for wealth, revenge. This true crime series investigates the stories of the women who killhow they kill by fire, poison, hiring a hitman or with guns or knivesoften different but sometimes chillingly like male homicide. From interviews with those close to Lady Killers, psychologists and criminologists, to dramatic reconstruction, this series answers the key questions as to why women take the lives of those close to them.

WED SEPT 30

MOVIE DROP: Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears starring Essie Davis

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Everything new coming to FOXTEL ON-DEMAND this September - TV Blackbox

PREVIOUSLY:

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More than a year after a jury convicted Nicholas Kistler of attempted murder, the 36-year-old Arcata man was sentenced this morning to 11 years to life in state prison.

Kistler.

Judge Christopher Wilson sentenced Kistler to seven years for premeditated attempted murder, three years for causing great bodily injury and one year for use of a weapon, a hammer. Kistler used the hammer to strike a man twice over the head, fracturing his skull, in April 2017 on the Arcata Plaza. Kistler had attempted to disguise himself with a bandana.

Before the sentencing, defense attorney Andrea Sullivan asked the judge to consider that Kistler was provoked when he attacked (the victim) and deeply regrets his decision. During his more than three years behind bars, Kistler participated in numerous programs and was awarded multiple certificates.

He has done tremendous work while in custody, Sullivan said.

She asked the judge to strike the weapons conviction, which would cut one year from Kistlers sentence.

Kistler, on video conference from the jail, read a lengthy statement taking responsibility for his crime and vowing to change his thinking and my behavior. He blamed his actions partially on drug addiction.

It lays heavily on my heart, Kistler said, that I found myself in such a low place that my actions were to paint an entirely different picture than what Ive always seen as who I am as a person I have made a personal commitment to nonviolence as a way of life and have not been in a single physical altercation or even so much as an argument during the the 3 1/2 years of my incarceration to date.

While in jail, Kistler took advantage of every program offered and earned dozens of certificates.

My path today is one of accountability and personal responsibility, he said.

Kistler was convicted in March 2019. The sentencing was delayed first by his failed attempt at getting a new trial, and then with his claim that his trial attorney hadnt represented him adequately.

Deputy District Attorney Luke Bernthal, the trial prosecutor, argued today that the weapons enhancement should not be stricken. Although defense attorney Sullivan claimed Kistler was provoked, that factual scenario was soundly rejected by the jury, who was instructed on attempted voluntary manslaughter as a possible crime and instead came back with a finding that the defendant had committed premeditated attempted murder, Bernthal said.

The jury also found, he said, that Kistler perjured himself on the witness stand.

As to Kistlers stellar performance as an inmate, Bernthal sees him in a different light. I look at the defendants record and I see one of someone who was a violent individual whos been spiraling out of control since 2014, Bernthal told the judge. Serious, escalating violence.

Among Kistlers many previous crimes were battery on a police officer and possession of a dirk or dagger. He fought with Winco employees after stealing from the store. One battery case was dismissed, and Kistler managed to defeat other charges related to a case eerily similar to this one, Bernthal said.

He purports to regret his actions, the prosecutor said. But everything that he has done, from the perjury he committed during his trial, the litigation afterward, frankly the speech that he has given today, is in the Peoples view simply evidence that he believes that he can continue to get away with these things as he has gotten away with them in the past.

Bernthal said its unfortunate it took this case to bring home to him, that he cannot, for example, disguise himself in broad daylight and hit somebody two times in the head with a hammer, trying to kill them.

Before Wilson imposed the sentence he commended Kistler on his efforts at self-improvement while in jail.

Mr. Kistler you are still a young man, Wilson said. I think that your accomplishments while youve been custody are admirable, and you shouldnt feel like those are wasted upon the court. They are certainly not wasted on any review board that might consider your ultimate release. Continue those efforts. You have time to make changes to your life and lifestyle that have led you to this unfortunate place.

At the same time, the judge said, the law allows him no discretion in sentencing other than the option of striking the weapons allegation.

Im not inclined to do that, Wilson told Kistler. Really its part and parcel of this particular event. I think that the jury, given the choice of weapon that was used here, that that was probably a significant factor in making the finding of premeditation and deliberation and the intent to kill. Certainly the selection of (a hammer) would perhaps suggest that.

Kistler was given credit for 1,242 actual days served, plus 186 days of good time credit.

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Judge Sentences Arcata Man to 11 Years to Life for Attempted Murder, More Than a Year After a Jury Convicted Him of the Crime - Lost Coast Outpost